A former world boxing champion from the North East is to attempt to have sexual assault charges against him dismissed by a court in London.

Glenn McCrory is accused of sexually assaulting three females at an event before the Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk title fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25, last year.

The 57-year-old former World Cruiserweight champion, from County Durham, indicated a likely not guilty plea to all three counts when he appeared before Highbury Corner magistrates in London at the initial hearing in the case, last week.

Proceedings were sent to Wood Green Crown Court by the magistrates after he elected a jury trial.

The Northern Echo:

Mr McCrory appeared at a plea hearing at that crown court, also in north London, today (July 14) by video link from Newcastle Crown Court, where he was accompanied by his solicitor, Michelle Stonley.

The charges were not put to him after Ms Stonley indicated that the defendant is to apply to have all three charges dismissed.

Judge David Aaronberg QC set a timetable for the defence to submit a skeleton argument to the court as to why the charges should be dismissed, by July 28, and prosecuting counsel Max Hardy was told the Crown must respond to that by August 4.

The judge and counsel then agreed that the dismissal hearing should be heard the following day at the court, with an hour-long time estimate.

The Northern Echo: Former IBF World Cruiserweight boxing champion Glenn McCrory pictured in the ring Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT Former IBF World Cruiserweight boxing champion Glenn McCrory pictured in the ring Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Should the application fail the charges would then be put to Mr McCrory at the end of that hearing and a trial date set.

Read more: County Durham boxing champ Glenn McCrory facing sex assault trial

Judge Aaronberg agreed that the defendant, of Anderson Court, Burnopfield, can again appear remotely at the dismissal hearing by video link from the court centre in Newcastle.

His bail was extended to that hearing.

During a 30-win professional boxing career Mr McCrory, formerly of Annfield Plain, near Stanley, became IBF World Cruiserweight champion in his home town in June 1989 and also held British and Commonwealth belts in the division.

Nicknamed the ’Northern Warrior’ during his fighting days, he hung up his gloves in 1993 and became a familiar voice as a co-commentator and pundit on Sky Sports boxing coverage.

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